Liam Phillips and Reigan Knight were killed following a crash in Essex (Image: facebook)

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These are the first pictures of two 17-year-old boys who were killed after the car they were travelling in crashed while being pursued by police.

The teens, named locally as Liam Phillips and Reigan Knight, were passengers in a maroon Ford Escort which crashed while being followed by a marked police car.

The vehicle carrying the teens hit a silver BMW before crashing into a wall in Southend, Essex at around 1am on Tuesday.

Reigan died at the scene and Liam was rushed to Southend Hospital in a critical condition following the crash but died on Wednesday morning.

Police refused to confirm whether the police car's lights or sirens were on.

Friends of the pair took to social media to pay tribute to them and posted pictures of a candle lit vigil they held on Tuesday night.

Tributes have been paid to the pair on social media (Image: facebook)

Writing on Facebook, Ben Atkinson said: "R.I.P Reigan Knight and Liam will be missed dearly and will never forget you brothers won't ever stop think about you and will look up praying for you both love ya (sic) bros ( WILL NEVER BE FORGOTTEN )"

Shannon O'Reilly added: "R.I.P Liam Phillips & Reigan Knight cant believe yous (sic) are gone man, don't seem real we used to be such good mates & now this has happened!

"Hope your families are okay & pull through this! Yous (sic) will be missed by a lot of people always in our hearts, never forgotten!"

Jake Houghton wrote: "Today, I and many others lost two very important people in our lives, Reigan Knight and Liam Phillips.

Police at the scene in Leigh on Sea (Image: Tom Howell)

"I wish I could have said goodbye to them both, you were both such nice, respectful guys and did not deserve to be taken from us, it just goes to show how this could happen to anyone at any place or time, so cherish the moments we have left and don't take this life we have for granted cause you never know when your time will be up, to their families and friends all my love goes out to you all, I love you boys both, rest in peace and sleep well."

Harry Page said: "Liam Phillips may you rest in peace, used to be so, so close and I just remember and know how loving and what a kind-hearted boy you are. Sleep tight mate you'll be so missed."

Lantana Hall said: "RIP to Reigan Knight who was a lovely kind-hearted boy and Liam Phillips who had a big heart and was always there for anyone who needed him.

"Sad that they were taken so soon and my thoughts are with their families."

Two other teenagers in the car, including the 16-year-old alleged driver, suffered minor injuries in the crash.

Two other teenagers in the car suffered minor injuries (Image: Tom Howell)

The driver of the silver BMW which they crashed into was unhurt.

A 16-year-old from Great Wakering, Essex has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, causing serious injury by dangerous driving, causing death by driving without a driving licence and causing death by driving without insurance.

He appeared at Chelmsford Youth Court today.

The second boy, a 17-year-old from Shoebury, Essex was arrested on suspicion of possession of drugs and has been released on bail until January 14.

The crash has been referred to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) which has launched an independent investigation.

Investigators have yet to determine the circumstances of the interaction between the police car and the Ford and whether it meets the precise criteria of a pursuit.